KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the organiser of the Education Innovation Motorsports and Automotive Race (EIMARace) in Kuantan, Pahang has maintained that it took all necessary safety precautions for the event which saw two spectators killed in an accident earlier today.

New Straits Times Online quoted UTM vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar as saying that water barriers and safety tape partitions were set up at the race, while security personnel were also on hand.

He reportedly said the safety precautions were in line with recommendations by the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), the body which manages motoring sports in the country.

“The outdoor track in Indera Mahkota, Pahang was proclaimed safe by the MAM for the race, which involved 51 teams from public and private higher learning institutes,” he was quoted saying.

Despite that, videos showed that the stretch where the accident happened was only guarded by mobile plastic traffic barriers.

 

 

Company supervisor Izwan Isa, 39, and his four-year-old daughter NurSiti Suhaiza Seman, were killed after being hit by a go-kart while witnessing the EIMARace 2016 racing championship this morning.

His wife, teacher Siti Suhaiza Seman, 38, was lightly injured but their son Muhammad Izz Danial Izwan, 7, is in critical condition at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan.

Wahid said he was deeply saddened over what happened and conveyed his condolences to the victims’ family.

He added that the matter would be left to the police to be investigated.

In the 11.30am incident, Izwan, a factory supervisor in Gebeng, his wife, as well as their two children were understood to be standing close to the circuit.

The victims failed to move out in time when the said go-kart suddenly went out of control before skidding and hitting them.

However, as of late this evening there has been no official statement from the police on the exact cause of the incident, and the number of victims involved.